What is an Emu?

The emu, the national bird of Australia, is the second largest member of the ratite group of flightless birds. Ratites include the ostrich, the rhea, the cassowary and the kiwi. Emus are native to Australia and were originally imported to the United States as a breeding stock for American zoos. Growing in popularity, emus are quickly becoming today's alternative livestock for the American farmer. The emu provides a storehouse of commercially attractive products including meat, leather, and oil.

The emu oil  is rendered from a thick layer of fat on the back which yields 1 to 2 gallons of unsaturated, nontoxic, highly penetrating oil.  It penetrates the skin better than any natural oil, and lacks long chain fatty acids, which is conducive to a long shelf life.